Disclaimer: It all belongs to the amazing JK Rowling.

Chapter 1

The End

The war was over. The Dark Lord defeated. There was nothing left to do now but pick up the pieces of so many broken lives. Harry thought this as he sat on his bed and looked at his two best friends, his stomach aching with hunger, his battle worn body aching with grief.

Yes, they had accomplished what they set out to do – Voldemort was dead. But his death had come at a heavy price. Images of Lupin and Tonks, Collin Creevey, and especially Fred kept flashing in Harry's mind. So many deaths.

Harry glanced over at Ron, who had said almost nothing since they climbed the stairs to the boy's dormitory of Gryffindor tower after bidding farewell to his family. The rest of the Weasleys were to return to the Burrow that evening, the home they had not seen in nearly a year - one Weasley short. To Harry's dismay, Ginny was to return with them. As much as it pained Harry to watch her go, he understood Ginny's need to be with her mourning family. Still, seeing Ron and Hermione sitting together, hand-in-hand, made Harry's heart ache with longing for her.

"Maybe we should see if we can get something to eat. We haven't eaten in well over a day." Harry said mostly to break the painful, all-consuming silence.

"Yes, that's a good idea." Hermione agreed wearily. Ron did not respond.

Harry cleared his throat, "Kreacher?" He said into the stillness of the Boy's dormitory.

A second later there was a loud crack, and Kreacher appeared.

"Master Harry?" Kreacher croaked bending low.

"Are you alright Kreacher?" Harry asked, examining the wizened little elf for signs of injury. Kreacher was dirtier than Harry had ever seen him and his Hogwarts tea towel was in tatters. Otherwise, he looked none the worse for wear. Harry was quite relieved. He did not think he could handle another innocent casualty.

"Yes Master Harry. Kreacher suffered no injury during the battle. Is Master and his friends also unharmed?"

Harry glanced at Hermione, then at Ron who was looking absently at the little house elf.

"It's been a tough night Kreacher. We lost some very good friends." Harry replied, his throat constricting as images of the fallen flashed in his mind's eye.

"Yes Master Harry. Kreacher saw the young Weasley twin who fell." Kreacher turned his attention to Ron. "Kreacher is sorry for your loss Master Ron."

Ron nodded his head but said nothing.

"Kreacher, if it's at all possible, could you bring us up a little something to eat? Anything will be fine. I imagine the kitchens are pretty smashed up." Harry said, bringing the house elf's attention back to himself.

"Of course Master Harry! I will bring something up for Master and his two friends right away."

There was another loud crack and Kreacher disappeared.

Without warning, Ron dropped his head into his hands and began to shake with silent sobs. Hermione, her own eyes filling with tears, embraced him. Harry reached across to Ron and put a hand on his friend's shoulder, feeling his throat burn with a desire to cry as well. Fred had been like a brother to Harry, and Harry could only imagine the depth of Ron's grief at losing his sibling.

"Dad told me that they are going to bury Fred at the Burrow." Ron finally spoke, pulling away from Hermione and wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt - a sleeve that was still stained with his brother's blood. "The funeral will be the day after tomorrow. You'll stay… after it's done? Both of you? Won't you?" He asked, looking up at Harry and Hermione with a hint of imploring desperation in his voice.

"Of course mate." Harry said gently, patting Ron on the back.

"As long as you want us there." Hermione added, nodding her head, tears still glistening in her eyes.

"What about your parents?" Ron asked, grasping Hermione's hand in his. She smiled sadly.

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them terribly. But it's been almost a year and, as far as I know, they are still living in Australia with no clue I even exist." Hermione's voice started to break as she brushed a tear from Ron's cheek with her hand. "I can wait a little longer to see them."

Ron embraced her again. Harry looked away, a longing to feel Ginny in his arms tugging at his stomach.

*

Hermione was the first to fall asleep that night. Harry noticed her eyes struggling to stay open as she gulped down the onion soup and bread that Kreacher had brought up for them. She had barely finished swallowing the last bite when she fell backward onto Ron's bed, her legs still hanging over the side in a sitting position, and fell fast asleep. Ron gently pulled Hermione up to his pillow and pulled a blanket over her. He turned to Harry.

"I love her mate, you know?" Ron said, his voice cracked and gravelly. Harry nodded, feeling the exhaustion creeping over him, pulling him toward his own pillow. He lay back on his bed and was asleep within a matter of moments.

When Harry awoke he saw that the room was flooded with a dusky light. He glanced over at Ron's bed. Hermione was still sleeping there, but Ron was awake, propped up on one arm, looking at her and caressing her hair. Harry wondered if Ron had slept at all. He looked terrible.

"What time is it?" Harry asked, reaching for his glasses.

"About five." Ron said.

"In the evening?" Harry asked.

Ron shook his head. "Nope, in the morning mate. You and Hermione have been asleep about eighteen hours."

Harry was shocked, then concerned as he looked at his weary friend.

"Have you slept at all Ron?" He asked.

Ron shrugged. "Yeah, on and off. I kept having nightmares though." Ron fell silent a moment before continuing. "Neville came in this morning and we chatted for a bit. Good guy that Neville." A hint of a smile crossed Ron's lips for a brief moment. "Kreacher came in a bit ago too and brought up some toast and jam for us. He looked good. Got rested and cleaned up."

Hermione stirred and her eyes flitted open. She seemed surprised but happy to see Ron lying next to her.

"Hi." Ron said leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips. Harry grinned in spite of feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Hi." Hermione replied, smiling. She looked over at Harry, a slight blush on her cheeks. "What time is it?"

Harry told her.

"What? We've been asleep that long!?!" She exclaimed, shooting up in bed. Harry and Ron grinned at her.

The remainder of the day passed in a haze. Harry, Ron and Hermione stayed up in the dormitory for most of the day, talking a little, going over their journey and the fact that the job was finally done. They parted company for a bit in the mid-morning to shower and change. Harry had forgotten how wonderful a truly hot shower felt and spent well more than a half-hour just letting hot water fall on him. When the sun began dropping in the horizon marking the end of the "day after," they finally headed out for the Great Hall.

Most of the students and their families had departed Hogwarts either just before or immediately following the battle, but those who remained broke into cheers when the trio appeared in the Great Hall. Many ran up to Harry, Ron and Hermoine to grasp their hands, hug them, and thank them for vanquishing the Dark Lord once and for all. Despite the feeling of jubilation in the air, Harry could feel little joy. His grief still ran too deep.

The dead and injured no longer lay lifeless on the floor of the Great Hall, which was largely in ruins, but Harry could still see them there in his mind and the thought made him sick. He was about to invite Ron and Hermione, who both looked as though they were thinking the same thing, back upstairs when they saw Neville enter the Hall and sit down on the remains of table partly obstructed from view by large pieces of rubble from the castle walls. He spotted the trio and waved them over. Harry, Hermione and Ron walked over and took their seats next to Neville, who greeting them with a soft hello. He looked tired, battle-worn, and much older.

"Where's your grandmother Neville?" Hermione asked, gratefully taking a plate of sandwiches from a smiling house-elf who had approached them with a tray of food. Harry noticed that there were quite a few house-elves in the great hall carrying trays of sandwiches and soup, and he idly wondered if the system of magic that usually made the dishes of food magically appear was damaged during the battle.

"St. Mungo's," Neville replied. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at Neville with horrified expressions. "Oh, no! She's fine!" He exclaimed. "She wanted to see my parents. You know, to tell them that it's over. I think they'd want to know that."

Harry suddenly felt a great rush of affection for Neville - sweet, clumsy, forgetful Neville, who had endured agonizing pain and almost certain death to carry out Harry's final wish, who destroyed the last Horcrux, who played a greater role in bringing down Voldemort that he would ever realize. As Neville picked up a finger sandwich, Harry unexpectedly embraced him.

"You were amazing mate!" Harry said, releasing Neville and looking into his eyes. Neville turned a rather brilliant shade of pink. His burns and scars from the previous nights' battle seemed to glow.

"I only did what you would have done." Neville replied modestly as Hermione now embraced him and Ron clapped him heartily on the back.

The four friends smiled at each other and fell silent. No one even noticed that Professor McGonagall had appeared at their table.

"You helped bring him down, Neville. No one will ever forget that, least of all us!" She intoned, tears in her eyes. Neville looked quite shocked.

Professor McGonagall turned her eyes to Harry, Ron and Hermione. They had never seen her look so appreciative or so proud.

"I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of all of you." She said, smiling down at them as her eyes traveled to each in turn. She leaned over, took Harry's face in her old hands and kissed him on his forehead. "If you were my own son, I could not be more proud." She whispered.

Harry stood and embraced her, not even trying to hide the tears that burned in the corners of his eyes. When they drew apart, she looked around at them all again. "I don't know what the future holds for you all, though great things I am sure! But know that all of you…any of you… have a position at Hogwarts if ever you want one."

Professor McGonagall turned her attention to Neville.

"Professor Sprout will be retiring in a few years time Mr. Longbottom," she began. "I'm sure she would be quite happy to take on such a talented apprentice and protégé while she prepares for that day." Neville gasped in surprise at McGonagall's words and smiled bemusedly. Harry noticed Professor McGonagall give Neville the smallest wink before walking away.